Category Archives: Rain Garden

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I haven’t posted anything since early June and have been cataloging my excuses, foremost is that the garden is full of plants (potted and otherwise) all screaming for attention.

Two decorative rain barrels each holding 65 gallons

The small kitchen/vegetable garden needs weeding, tending, watering etc.; three quarters of an acre of property (even if just brown lawn and bone dry meadow) demand a modicum of upkeep; and keeping all the potted plants limping along in the face of record drought calls for hand watering using collected water from ten rain barrels supplemented with post-shower gray water left in the bottom of the bathtub.

All of which leave me less time for reflection then I planned.

Eight more rain barrels (hold about 417 gallons)

Paradoxically, I suppose I could cite our incredibly warm and dry weather as motivation for sitting at a computer and writing rather than toiling in the garden, but since garden chores are a proven antidote to a sedentary lifestyle, I force myself to work outside no matter how hot. [See my post on why gardeners live better and longer lives]

Add to that mix the example of five cats (now sadly four) who perfectly model indolent behavior in the face of really hot weather, and you can see why I long to curl up in the shade and nap too.

Emma, snoozing

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Despite its reputation as a rain and cloud magnet, our region typically has very little rainfall in the months of July and August, and many of our native plants are adapted to our dry summers. This year rainfall fell off precipitously in early spring and was accompanied by hotter than usual temperatures.

Unlike the greater Seattle area, which depends heavily on runoff from the snow pack in the Cascade mountains, Vashon Island (about 37 square miles) must rely on our sole source aquifer, which is reportedly still in good shape.

Many folks on Vashon have their own wells, while others belong to small water districts. Our water district, Heights Water, reports that while use is up this summer (after two years of summer declines) the aquifer is holding up nicely. Nevertheless, we are keeping the perennial plant beds, the trees, the shrubs and the potted plants from suffering severe damage by using rain water and hand carrying gray water as much as possible.

In choosing and placing plants for a rain garden one must remember that a rain garden is not a single garden (like a bog, pond or woodland), but rather a many zoned depression that provides habitat for a wide range of plants. For example, in the wettest central depression area, it’s wise to select plants whose root systems don’t mind wet feet.

Rain Garden in early Spring with most herbaceous perennials still dormant

Even if your particular rain garden is on the level side, or narrow and sloping — during your rainiest times of the year roots must enjoy the moisture. That said, if you pay attention to drainage and your garden is designed with higher drier perimeter areas, you could include more xeric plants that require very little or no extra watering!

I would go so far with this concept to suggest that selecting plants for a rain garden, especially with respect to drainage, is similar to the process that rock gardeners go through when designing places for their alpine and sub alpine plants. Like a rock garden environment, a rain garden must by design requirements provide excellent drainage.

The following original plant list reflects just those plants established with the rain garden in the spring of last year. As each plant reaches its bloom season common names in the list will be a link to a picture. Plants under propagation or planned for adding this spring are indicated by the delta symbol.

Like this:

The rains came as expected this winter. October, November and December were wet and generally milder (above average temps). The rain garden performed exceptionally well.

It was a pleasure to watch the torrent of rain cascading down the rain chain. The barrel filled so quickly during the rainiest of days that I frequently opened the spigot and let the rill carry water to the garden. I can think of only one day when I even noticed a bit of “pooling” in the center depression of the garden, but that quickly receded within an hour or two after the deluge ceased.

It really wasn’t necessary to direct any overflow from the barrels to the foundation drain. Instead I just opened the spigot in heavy downpours and let the rain garden handle all the flow.

Improvements to the low area on the west of the house — where heavy rains used to result in the foundation drain creating a small pool — were noticeable.

The following original plant list reflects just those plants established with the rain garden. As each plant reaches its bloom season common names in the list will be a link to a picture. Plants under propagation or planned for adding this spring are indicated by delta symbol.